Drivers fume as cycling test event leads to 'gridlock' across London

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cyclists

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Olympic trial Cycling

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Mark Cavendish

Victorious: Britain's Mark Cavendish won yesterday's road race from the Mall to the Surrey hills

Olympic cycling test event caused traffic problems across London

Transport for London today admitted there were "lessons to be learned" after an Olympic test event led to traffic problems across London.

Motorists complained of "transport chaos" caused by the London-Surrey Cycle Classic, which followed the same route as the 2012 road race.

The disruption offered a glimpse of the challenges TfL and Games organisers face during the Olympics.

Next year there will be extra pressure on roads as 60 miles of lanes are reserved for Olympic vehicles as part of a 100-mile network of restrictions prioritising athletes, media and VIPs.

Other Olympic "road events" such as triathlon, the marathon and race-walking are expected to add to the strain.

Sky news presenter Eamonn Holmes led protests yesterday angrily tweeting: "Big tailbacks on A3 and A3 approaches to M25 and in other direction to Wimbledon. Due to flamin (sic) Olympic bikes. Keep sport in a stadium."

Top cyclists, including Britain's Mark Cavendish, who won the race, rode from The Mall in central London to Box Hill in Surrey and back.

About 1,400 roads in London and Surrey were shut for most of the day with closures from 4am until 4pm.

Motorists complained that journeys of just a few miles took up to two hours and that roads were still closed long after cyclists had passed through.

Alan Ashworth, 56, from Bromley, left his car after hitting gridlock in King's Road in Chelsea at about 2.15pm and walked two miles to work in Kensington. He said: "It was gridlock. I was trying to cross Fulham Road and was turned back.

I asked the race steward when the race finished and he said an hour ago. He said didn't really know what was going on. It was nonsense."

The situation was made worse by gas roadworks at the junction of the A3 and the south circular.

Transport for London bosses said they warned residents that roads would be "severely affected". Surface transport chief Leon Daniels said: "Maps were delivered to every business and household in the area."

TfL added: "We did not see major traffic disruption, but we recognise the event caused difficulties for some. There will be lessons to be learnt from the test event, which is exactly what this event has been about."

Debbie Jevans, London 2012 director of sport, said: "I want to thank London and Surrey residents for changing their normal Sunday to accommodate this race and to the tens of thousands who lined the route to support the athletes."